Magnolias in the Firmament

The magnolia through which one looks from R's studio porch.

Porches and Perches

Of the many wonderful aspects of our yard, one of our favorite is all the small porches and sitting areas that are much like small rooms. As we have expanded over the years and encompassed the adjoining properties, we've added new vantage points-porches and perches. This photo is of the awning above the french doors on the north side of R's studio. The porch this awning covers is cantilevered over the hill above the half moon and nestled up in the branches of a Japanese magnolia which is budded up and starting bloom. One day I'll complete the railing of cherry laurel, magnolia and crape myrtle limbs. Soon, I hope.

beauty everyday

a companion image to this kumquat will be seen soon over at this new (ad)venture.

Fruits of the Garden

One for Rinne, one for Claren, and one for Lee. Collected from the chicken coop yesterday. Our chickens began laying eggs again in the last few weeks after a break to molt, I believe. Or maybe it was the stern lecture I gave them one day late in January. I said, "Y'all are putting food on my table-one way or the other." Eggs resumed dropping not too long after that.

Mardi Gras

If one should be so lucky as to find oneself in the Big Easy, NOLA, Nawlins or whatever one wants to call it, for Mardi Gras or any other day, take your fine self on down to the Napoleon House and grab a Pimm's cup. You'll like it.

mardi gras

oh new orleans, we miss you- today of all days, especially.

(back to gardening, tomorrow.)

smylax

here is one of the smylax bulbs in lee's hand, for scale. 

there were ones much bigger than this even...

gardener

after fighting the smylax (and magnolia), lee prepares to clean up...

Robins and Grackles

Robins and Grackles flitting (and shitting) about. Sunny, cold, hollies and laurels heavy with berries. Savannah and cherry that is. Seems, hopefully, spring is near. 4 weeks 'til the spring equinox.

No Lack of Smilax

As is our want Rinne and I, like most gardeners, are constantly creating new and more difficult work for ourselves in the yard. Case in point: for many years the property line between our house and our neighbor was allowed to be a rambling impenetrable screen to block the herd of cujos and crazed curs living next door. Once we purchased the property and the animals were gone, we slowly began to reclaim the hedge line. One major component is a file of cryptomeria which now tower over the houses. Mingled in 'til yesterday were smilax vines which had grown to the top of the trees. Quite unknown to us was the fact that the smilax had been in place as long as the cryptomeria. I certainly discovered this when I began to mattock the rhizome out. Two and three quarters hours later I had cubic yard of smilax rhizome out of the ground and an aching back. We also have wonderful dappled sunlight streaming into a formerly shaded area. Now, what are we going to do with this pile of rhizome?

different ways of looking at the garden through your camera

it can be hard to capture your garden on film (or, er...in digital format). the different shadows and textures can overwhelm a camera's sensor and your own eye. here is an example of looking at the same subject in two very different ways. a star japanese magnolia is beginning to bloom in the side garden. it is rainy & grey today, which makes photographing appear hard, at first glance. but, really, it is one of the best times because of the lack of shadows and the white sky makes a perfect backdrop for silhouettes. the top photo is the more straightforward image, showing the magnolia's early blossoms. the second image, shows off its structure against the sky. and the final image, below, abstracts it even more.

look at your backyard differently the next time you visit.

sometimes in the garden...

...things happen that are not so great. lee found this birdie outside my studio...perhaps it flew into my window, perhaps not...we don't know...

Crape Murder

Like a chill winter wind scouring all life in its path, a seasonal evil haunts the land. An old hacker slicing away at their captive prey. The Crape Murderer, lurking around churches, bank parking lots, fast food joints and office buildings, leaves behind little save for stumpy limbs and horrified onlookers. Who or what could do that to a tree? A horticultural Weegee was at the scene:

valentine

a quick stroll thru the garden revealed the ingredients for my valentine's bouquet: cherry, narcisuss, coral quince, hellebores, and white quince. nary a red rose for my valentine...thank goodness.

Winter Color

I finally made it for a stroll in the yard today-courtesy of the ACC Community Protection Division shutting down the job where I was working. So I strapped Claro to my chest and braved the 70 degree weather to see what has joined the daffodils, spirea, and hellebores. We found quince up by the house,

and a dusky hellebore in the side garden,

and a crocus down by the stream.

Not a bad little stroll!

valentine's flower idea

petersham nursery photos are forthcoming (probably later in the week) but today i wanted to share an easy idea for valentine flowers. i do flowers for a few really yummy places in town and for friends, here and there. our garden has something of interest all year- whether it is pods or blossoms or branches. these arrangements using hellebores require hardly any skill. the trick is to make sure you condition your hellebores though- cut them and soak them up to their heads in water overnight, then arrange them. otherwise they will droop. once they are hydrated, cut the stems short and place in any low bowl- here, i have used small wooden ones, just enough for a blossom or two. then fill the extra space with moss. you can also tuck in small narcisuss or a light branch for some height.  then place on a table, or just present to the one you love.

a year in my kitchen

well, not my kitchen but skye gyngell's...three years ago we were lucky enough to go to petersham nurseries and visit. we ate in their wonderful greenhouse and had the most delicious food. the servers wore wellies and work aprons, and we were surrounded by flowering trees and orchids. it was raining, but that made it all the more cozy (and all the more English)...after eating, we browsed- they are a functioning nursery too, hence the name. they had everyday supplies like trowels and snips, and also chicken coops, mulch, seeds, starts, books, indian artifacts--- the list goes on and on. tomorrow, i will share photographs from that visit. but today, i wanted to share the cookbook that skye gyngell wrote last year. photographed by jason lowe, it is a treasure. the words, recipes, and images go together perfectly and give a true sense of the place where the recipes are created and served. arranged by season, the images convey, not only the final result of the recipe, but also the tiny details of such a unique kitchen- raindrops on the greenhouse glass, sifted flour, flower petals, etc. a veritable  art book, that is a cookbook too. (as an aside, petersham most certainly was the template for this place as well. we have visited it too and applaud them for their efforts, but the original is still, well...the original , and therefore most authentic.)

Georgia

Today was one of those days that reminds me why I live in Georgia. 70 degree temps and sunshine on  a February day. 

john linley

we would not be here if it weren't for john linley. he lived here for 30 years prior to us and laid the foundation for our garden. really, we are just keeping up what he left behind, as well as adding our own touch...here and there. mr. linley was a professor in landscape architecture at UGA. the university created a digital archive of images of his work on historic architecture that can be found here. above are two photographs of our house- 'before' when he purchased it in 1967, and 'after' he renovated it the next year...and here is a description that goes along with the 'before' of our house, from the digital library of georgia. later, we'll share some historic garden photos...

bringing the garden in, part 2

i have been in the studio today. here are some more images of how i bring the garden inside, to enjoy and enjoy.

okra, chinaberry, and roses, all from last year's garden. the roses can also be seen here.

on gardening

a quote i heard yesterday:

"a garden can never be finished, only abandoned".

new growth

spring is around the corner. eventhough we have until march 20 for the official start of spring, it is always this time of year that it feels close. things are starting to pop out slowly, despite the 17 degree temp this morning. i forget every year how invigorating the bright fresh new growth is.

Middle Winter

Well, not much to report other than we are in the winter doldrums. The yard's haircut has been completed with the liriope cutback finished Saturday. Mostly planning for the spring now and preparing for planting in the late winter. We have tea olives, ferns, trifoliate oranges, mahonias, hibiscus, lenten roses, large grasses, and one magnolia to place. We discovered a great web site, Nearly Native Nursery, which has many plants we have been looking for such as big leaf magnolia, buckeyes, and joe pye weed. They have a nice, extensive list of plants not readily available from most nurseries.